Garment press



Oct. 3, 1933. J CARD GARMENT PRESS Filed June 21 1929 5 Shets-Sheet 1 Oct. 3, 1933. J L, CARD GARMENT PRESS Filed June 21. 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 8140a; efofiiz Z Care? Oct. 3, 1933. J CARD 1,929,305

G ARMENT PRESS Filed June 21. 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 glwuantoz Jbz L. C an? FMM J. L. CARD GARMENT PRESS Oct. 3, 1933.

Filed June 21, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 3, 1933. J. L. CARD 1,929,305

GARMENT PRESS Filed June 21, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 (lttouw a.

Patented Oct. 3, 1933 GARMENT PRESS John L. Card, Baltimore, Md, assignor to was States Hoffman Machinery Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application June 21, 1929. Serial N 372,634

1'7 Claims.

This invention relates to garment presses, particularly that type of garment press in which final application of pressure is effected by means of power driven mechanism. In power driven .5.- presses it has been found desirable to first position one of the pressing elements with respect tothe other pressing element by a manual opera tion, the power mechanism being actuated only after the pressing elements have been brought into cooperative relation. This not only enables the operator properly to lay the garment or material on the lower press element but safeguards the operator inasmuch as the application of' pressure by power cannot be effectedzuntil the tween the pressing elements. 7 t is an object of the present invention so to construct a press of the type referred to above that a final pressure maybe applied by a power,-

aotuated member cooperating with a guide or wedge -member on the frame of the'press.

It is another object of the invention to pro-- vide means on the press acting to prevent-application of a final heavy pressure except when the *Tupper press element or head has'been lowered.

into pressing relation with ment or buck.

' It is a further object of the invention'to pro vide a clutch connection between the pressure .applying member and the power mechanism, the

clutch being effective to connect the pressure Fig. 2 is a view similar toFig. 1, the press head being shown as positioned immediately above the buck, having been lowered manually ""by the operator; p j V Fig.3 is a view of a portion of the press cor responding with Fig. 2 exceptthat the parts are shown in their respective positions at the moment somaximum pressure is being applied; i

Fig. i is a topsectional view of the press head lever and pressure applying mechanism-taken on 1ine4 4.-ofFig.2; V

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the press head 55 lever and the pressure applying arm r operators hands have been withdrawn from be- Fig. c is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view ofthe clutch for conmeeting the power mechanism to the pressure applyingarmtaken on line 7-7of Fig. 8 ;v

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken online 8-45 0fFig.'l;. a Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a portion of the clutch taken on line 99 of Fig. 7;-and Fig. 1c is a side elevationjof a safety device for the power mechanism, certain of theparts being broken.

The press includes the usual base'or framell supporting a table12 and'a fixedpressing element or buck 13. 'A movable pressing element or head 14 is secured to a'swingable forked lever 15 fulcruined at 16 on the standardportion 11' of the press frame. The head may be lowered into:

handle 17 being provided forthis purpose, and

.PATEN'TlOFF-ICE T usual pressing operations may be'V'effected means of a foot lever ls connecte'd to" lever 15 by a.

link 19.: The headis normallyheld "in" its ele-" vat'ed p ition, as shown in Figs; land 4, by: springs 1 each connected at one end to the. lever 15 and at its other end to the frame 11 holding the .press open except when it is lowered by the operator or during the application of pressure by power. The above describe'dfcor'i struction is well known in the art and further. description of the details'is unnecessary. V

Disposed above the standard 11' otthe. press frame is an arched member or yoke 22, one leg ard, the otheror forward leg 22' being yieldingly connected to an arm 24 of the standard. The

yielding connection comprises an eye-bolt 25 having its eye portion 26 cooperating with a pin 27- on the arm 24 and its other end adjustablythreaded to anut 28, the latter bearing against a heavy W coiled spring 29. The leg 22' has a cup-shaped portion 30 projecting forwardly therefrom, and

an annular shoulder 31 therein forms a bearing for spring 29 disposed in the cup portion andsurrounding the eye-bolt 25 which passes through the cup-shaped portion. A threadedplug 32 clos 34, rotatably mounted on a pin 36 journalled in bearings 3'7 in the end of a forked connecting rod 38. The leg 22 is widened at its ends and its lower track or flange 39 is inclined to the horizontal when the press is closed to form a wedge shaped guide, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter. The innerside of leg 22 and the upper portion of the yoke 22 are also inclined to the horizontal but in a direction opposite to the inclination of the flange 39, thus forming a recess 40 in the yoke.

The connecting rod 38 is adapted to be reciprocated by power means which in the, present instance comprises an electric motor 41 secured to the rear portion of the lever 15. As stated, hereinbefore, it is desirable to apply pressure by power only whenthe press is closed and to maintain the pressure for any desired period. A suitable clutch mechanism is therefore interposed between the connecting rod and the motor, the clutch being capable of effecting a connection between the connecting rod and motor when it is desired to apply or release pressure on the press head. As shown in Figs. '7 and 8, the motor shaft 42 is provided near one end thereof with a worm 43 meshing with worm gear 44 keyed or otherwise secured to a sleeve 45. This sleeve has at one end a reduced portion 46 which is journaled in the cover plate4'7'of the clutch housing 48. At its other end the sleeve is enlarged and milled to A crank shaft 51, hav-v form ratchet teeth 49. ing crank arms 52, passes through the clutch housing and secured to this crank shaft is a plate 53 on which is pivotally supported a pawl 54 adapted to engage the ratchet teeth 49; The pawl is fastened intermediate its ends to a pin 55 journaled in the, plate 53 and-segment 56, the latter being fastened to the plate. As shown in 46 Fig. 9 the spring 5'7 is fastened at one end to the ring 62. The cam ring has two projecting por tions or high surfaces 63, 64, each of which engages the roller' 61 at certain stages of the opera tion to disengage the pawl and teeth; The outer periphery of the cam ring is concentric with crank shaft 51 and mounted in the clutch housing for circumferential movement therein. The ring is prevented from being displaced'laterally by a ing the cam ring circumferentially a forked rocker arm 68, cooperating with a pin 69 on the ring is provided. The rocker arm is secured to one'end of a rocker shaft '71 journaled in a boss '72 on the clutch housing, a second rocker arm '73 being fastened to the shaft '71 at its other end, and -exteriorly of the housing. Alink 74 connects'arm '73 with a bell-crank lever '75 pivotally secured to the forward end of lever 15, and having a handle '76 thereon. By depressing handle '76 it is obvious tha'tthe ring 62 will be shifted in a clockwise direction. It is to be noted that the ring isprovided on its under side with a recess '77 forming shoulders '78, '78 adapted to cooperate with an abutment '79 on the housing tolimit the circum ferential movement of the ring in each direction.

- The rocker arm is normally held in the position indicated in Figs. 1 and '7, that is, to the left of the center of the clutch, by a coil spring 81 fastened to the clutch housing and to the rocker arm 73. In this position the shoulder '78 on the cam ring rests against the abutment '79 and the high surfaces 63, 64 of the cam are positioned to engage the cam follower at a time when the crank arms are on dead center with respect to connecting rod 38.

Extending forwardly and downwardly with respect to the fulcrum of lever '75 and formed integrally with the lever is an arm 82 having a roller 83 at the end thereof. Secured to or cast on the frame arm 24 isa cam piece or abutment 84 designed to prevent actuation of lever '75 and the clutch until the head has been lowered manually a sufficient distance to preclude insertion of the operator's fingers between the head and buck, that is, when the space between the head and buck is less than average finger thickness. This arrangement obviates the danger of injury to the operators hands, It is to be noted that the abutment 84 is so shapedthat lever '75 cannot be rocked in any of the positions of the press head lever between its normally open position and in a lowered position in which the press is spaced but a slight distance from the buck. If the clutch is actuated when the press is inits normally open position roller 34 will ride up the. inclined face of leg 22' to open the press still further. When the press head has been lowered sufficiently to, permit roller 83 to clear the vertical face of abutment 84 the roller follows the under arcuate face of the abutment, thus permitting lever '75 to be rocked. Since the head is maintained in pressing relation with the buck after-the clutchhas been actuated to advance rollers 34, 35, it is apparent that, when it is desired to withdraw these rollers, the lever can again be rocked to cause reengagement of the clutch members, roller 83 being disposed beneath abutment 84.

From the-above description it is apparent that heavy pressure can be applied to the press head only after the head has been lowered to pressing position. So long as the head is raised the connecting rod and pressure rollers will enter recess 40, if connected to the motor, the flanges of the lever 15 being above the surface 39 on the under side of the leg 22'. It is necessary, therefore, to lower the 'headsufiiciently to form a space between the flanges on the press head lever and the under surface 39 to leg '22, substantially equal to the diameter of the rollers 34, 35. When the head has been lowered to a position at which the rollers 34, 35 are permitted to travel forward andunder the surface 39, and roller 83 has cleared the vertical face of cam 84, the handle '76 is depressed, whereupon the cam ring 62is shifted in a clockwise direction to displace thehigh portion 63 with respect to the cam follower. This permits the spring 5'7 to rock the pawl into engagement with the ratchet teeth 49 and rotate the crank shaft 51. The connecting rod 38 will then, be moved forwardly and the rollers 34, 35 will exert a pressure on the lever 15, corresponding with the initial compression of spring 29, the inclined track 39 causing relative movement between the leg 22' and lever 15. The spring.29 is sufficiently strong to permit application of relatively great pressure on the goods between the pressing elements13, 14, but will yield if further downward movement of the press head is resisted. When the connecting rod has reached its maximum forward displacement, that is, when the crank-arms are on dead-center,- maximum pres sure is transmitted to the press -head.- -At the sametime, the plate 53 will havemoved through 180 and the cam follower will then engage the high surface 64 of the cam to release the pawl from engagement with teeth 49; The rollers 34, will therefore remain stationaryin their furthest forward position, it being assumed that lever has been released. When it is desired to release the pressure, the handle-'76 is again depressed to displace cam surface 64 and permit reengagementof the pawl and ratchet -teeth. The rollers 34, 35 are then-withdrawn by rear-f ward movement of the connecting rod and when,

the crank arms reach their rearwardmost position with respect to the yoke 22, the cam follower engages the projection63 on thecam to disengage the pawl and ratchet and bring the connecting rod 38 to rest. The above'cycle of operations is repeated for each pressing operation.

It will be apparent that, as compared with" other 'power DI'QSSBSythG present machine protails may be readily changed without affecting .stituentparts of the press. r

j and said power means.

thenovelarrangement an'd operation-of the con ll fhat is claimed is; V s

l. Aflgarment presscomprisingin combination a frame: a fixed pressingelement; a movable pressing elementadaptcd to be moved into pressemg relation with said fixed pressing element;

carryirgdneans' for said movable pressing element; power means; guide'meanson said frame and dispcsedfabove said fixed element; and means actuated-by said power means bearing directly .1 against and movable along said guide means and said carrying means to move said movable element into pressing relation with said fixed element.

2. A garment press comprising in combination a frame; a fixed pressing element; a press lever;

able into pressing relation with said fixed element; power means; guide means on said frame, said guide means being disposed intermediate the open and closed positions of said second element; and means actuated by said power means and c0.-

' ,goperating with said lever and said guide means to apply pressure to the movable element when said second element is in closed position.

4. A garment press comprising in combination a fixed pressing element; a movable press lever .lhaving a second pressing element thereon; a

' saidpressure applying means into guide onthe frame; andreciprocab1e means .co-' acting with said guide and the upper surface ofsaid lever for applying pressure to said second when 1 moved longitudinallyof a means adapted to coactwith said guide and the upper surface'of said lever for applying pressure; to saidsecond-pressing element longitudinally of' the lever; and means for connectin'gsaid power means to said pressure applying means to re'- ciprocate said reciprocable means. L 6. 'A garment press comprising incombination a fixed pressing element; a movable press lever having a second pressing element thereon; pow-"3' er means; means adaptedto coact with the up per surface of saidlever for applying pressure to said second pressingelement; a clutch for connecting said-power means tosaid pressure apply-' ing meansyand means'on said clutch for disconnecting said power means from the pressure apmaximum application :of

plying means during pressure. I

7. A. garment press comprising in combination:

a frame; a fixed pressing element; a movable press lever having a -second pressing element thereon; a'guide onsaid frame; means adapted to coact with said guide and the upper surface of said lever for applying pressure to said second pressing element; and power means for' moving coacting relation with said guide and lever;

8. A garment presscomprising in combination a frame; -a fixed pressing element on said frame;

a movable press lever fulcrumed onsaid frame and having a second pressing element thereon; a

reciprocab'le member cooperating with said lever;

va guide member 'disposedabove andsecured to said' frame, 'said guide' m'eans having a guidinga frame; a fixed pressing element on said frame;-

a movable press lever fulcrumed on said frame yoke disposed above and secured to said frame','

said yoke having means thereon for guiding said member during reciprocation thereof to effect downward movement of the press lever when said second pressing element is in pressing relation with said fixed pressing element; and other means on said yoke for guiding said member when the press lever is in raised position to prevent downward m vement of the lever..

10. A garment press comprising in combination a frame; a fixedpressingelement on said frame; amovable press lever fulcrumed on said frame and having a second pressing element thereon; a rod'adapted to be reciprooated longitudinally of the lever; a roller on said rod bearing against the upper surface of said. lever; means for reciprocating said rod; a yoke pivoted at one end to said frame; yieldable means connecting the other end of said yoke tosaid frame; and means on saidyoke adjacent said yieldable means for guiding said roller when said second I 11. A garment press, comprising in combinameans by a predetermined movement of tion alframe; a fixed'pressing element; a mov-' able pressing element fulcrumed on said frame and adapted. to be moved into pressing relation with said fixed pressing element; power means; pressure applying means; a clutch for connecting said power means and the pressure applying means; means normally holding said clutch inoperative; a control member movable with said pressing element for moving said clutch into power applying position; and means on said frame engaging said control member to prevent actuation thereof until said member is moved out of engagement with said last-mentioned said movable element. 1

12. A garment press comprising in combination a fixed pressing element; a movable press lever having a second pressing element thereon; powerv means; 'means'adapted to coact with the upper surface of said lever for applying pressure to said second pressing element; means for connecting said power means to said pressure applying means; and means to prevent the connection of said power means and pressure applying means except when said second pressing element has been moveda predetermined distance with respect to said'fixed element.

13. A garment press comprising in combination a frame; a fixed pressing element; a movable pressing element fulcrumed on said frame and adapted to be moved into pressing relation withsaid fixed pressing element; power means;.

pressure applying means; a clutch for connecting said power means and the pressure applying means; means normally holding said clutch inoperative; a rockable lever for actuating said 1 clutch; and an abutment on said frame to prevent said lever from being rocked and the clutch actuated except when said movable element has been moved a-predetermined distance with respect to said fixed element.

14. Ina garment press, the combination of a fixed frame; a buck thereon; a head; a headcarrying lever fulcrumed on the frame; a member secured to the frame, said member lying in spaced relation to thehead-carrying lever, said lever and member being formed with oppositely disposed converging tracks; and means movable'in reference t'o and cooperating with said tracks to rock the head-carrying lever.

In a garment press, the combination of a main frame; a pair of pressing elements, one fixed on the frame; a movable support for the other of said elements; and pressure applying means comprising rectilinearly reciprocable wedging mechanism acting on said support to move the same and carrythe pressing element supported thereby into pressing relation with V the other pressing element, said wedging mechanismincluding a guide member movable relatively to said :frame and secured thereto by a yielding element.

I 16. In a garment press, the combination of a main frame; a pair of pressing elements, one fixed on the frame; a movable support for the other of said elements; and pressure applying means comprising rectilinearly reciprocable wedging mechanism acting on said support to move the sameand carry the pressing. element supported thereby into pressing relation with the other pressing element, said wedging mechanism including a guide member movablerela tively to said frame and secured thereto by an adjustable spring-controlled element.

17. In a garment press, the combination of V a fixed frame; a buck thereon; a head; a headcarrying lever fulcrumed on the frame; a member securedv to the frame, said member lying in spaced relation to the head-carrying lever, said lever and-member being formed with oppositely disposed converging tracks; a yieldableconnection between said frame and said member; and

means movable in reference to andcooperating with said tracks to rock the head-carrying lever.

, JOHN'L. CARD. 

